We have the AMEX Cash Rewards Preferred. $75 annual fee but it basically doubles the cash back on the spend. 6% supermarkets, 3% grocery, 1% all else. I ran the #s and the fee was easily covered by the cash back.
I've had AMEX cards since I first started using credit cards. Only annoying thing is they aren't accepted everywhere. So we carry a BOA debit card for that.

Well, you inspired me. I just called Amex and upgraded my card. They took a look at my spending and said our dining out alone would cover the fee. I asked if they would waive the fee for the first year and they said no.

I'm with ctenidae on the notion of paying a fee; it drives me a bit nuts but the math is the math.

May 12, 2016, 9:31 AM

xwhaler

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edd

Well, you inspired me. I just called Amex and upgraded my card. They took a look at my spending and said our dining out alone would cover the fee. I asked if they would waive the fee for the first year and they said no.

I'm with ctenidae on the notion of paying a fee; it drives me a bit nuts but the math is the math.

Exactly, I make up the fee many times over just in grocery spend, never mind gas for commuting between my wife and I.

May 12, 2016, 2:25 PM

Domeskier

Quote:

Originally Posted by xwhaler

Exactly, I make up the fee many times over just in grocery spend, never mind gas for commuting between my wife and I.

You and your wife should move in together and save on gas.

May 12, 2016, 2:41 PM

xwhaler

Quote:

Originally Posted by Domeskier

You and your wife should move in together and save on gas.

LOL, clearly typed too quickly and didn't realize it read that way :)

May 12, 2016, 4:26 PM

ctenidae

Quote:

Originally Posted by Domeskier

You and your wife should move in together and save on gas.

Well played.

May 13, 2016, 9:42 AM

Domeskier

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctenidae

Well played.

Many thanks. :-D

May 14, 2016, 1:21 PM

drjeff

I think if one feels if they're being charged an annual fee for a rewards based credit card and it's not worth it, then they probably have the wrong rewards credit card.

Between my personal AMEX and my business card, my annual fees are $150. That $150 last year got me 2 round trip tickets from Boston to Portland, OR, 2 more round trips tickets from Providence to Ft Lauderdale and almost 2 weeks of free hotel nights - I am quite happy with my annual fee/rewards ratio

Heck, I have some friends in the financial sector, who travel a TON a year, and have VISA Black cards, and they're quite happy with the roughly $500 annual fee that they pay from the concierge services and member exclusive perks that card gets them

It's all a relative cost/benefit thing to each person

Dec 12, 2016, 10:04 AM

gmcunni

had been very happy with our JetBlue amex and now mastercard. with family in FL it made a lot of sense. now with daughter heading to Boulder and JetBlue's very limited service to Denver i'm thinking of a switch.

Delta is my backup in terms of mileage accumulation, used mostly for work. rewards with them could be nice but I have to check on some others to see which might be better.

Dec 26, 2016, 1:14 PM

austinjfuller

I didn't see this combo posted but if you use the Chase Sapphire (first year free and $95 annual after) and the Chase Freedom Unlimited (no fee) together you can maximize and combine points. Sapphire gets 2x on travel / dining and Freedom gets 1.5x on everything, using them together can get 1.5x or 2x points for every transaction and the combine points on Sapphire card when redeeming :beer:

Jan 13, 2017, 7:25 AM

delco714

Quote:

Originally Posted by austinjfuller

I didn't see this combo posted but if you use the Chase Sapphire (first year free and $95 annual after) and the Chase Freedom Unlimited (no fee) together you can maximize and combine points. Sapphire gets 2x on travel / dining and Freedom gets 1.5x on everything, using them together can get 1.5x or 2x points for every transaction and the combine points on Sapphire card when redeeming [emoji481]